Loblolly pine tree named ‘CF L3791’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinctive variety of a loblolly pine tree which has been denominated varietally as ‘CF L3791’ which is distinguished by high resistance to fusiform rust and pitch canker, excellent stem straightness, medium to wide crown width, few whorls to medium number of whorls, and very fast growth.

Latin name: Pinus taeda.

Variety denomination: ‘CF L3791’.

BACKGROUND

A new variety of loblolly pine tree (Pinus taeda), has been discovered. This selection has been designated as ‘CF L3791.’

This new variety is a progeny of two first generation selections. Female parent is a first generation selection made in Williamsburg County, S.C. Male parent is a first generation selection made in Onslow County, N.C.

Cross pollination occurred in early 1997 followed by induction and cryopreservation of embryogenic tissue in 1998. First somatic seedlings were produced in 2000 and planted in early 2001 in seven field experiments. A total of 61 ramets were planted ranging from 5 to 11 ramets per field experiment. The field experiments are located in Mississippi, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A new and distinct cultivar of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is distinctly characterized by great resistance to fusiform rust and pitch canker, high growth rate, excellent stem straightness, medium to wide crown width, few whorls to medium number of whorls, and which is mature for commercial harvesting sooner than conventionally grown trees under the ecological conditions prevailing in the Piedmont, Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains, and Mid-Continent regions of the United States.

The Pinus taeda plants of this variety were asexually propagated using an advanced form of micropopagation called somatic embryogenesis carried out at CellFor's production facility in Victoria, Canada. Somatic embryogenesis uses a complex process which relies on the splitting of one embryo into many identical embryos. Somatic embryos can then be grown into plants which are all identical genetically. The asexual propagation occurs at an earlier stage in the plant's life cycle than most other micropropagated plants. The detailed methods for somatic embryogenesis used for asexually propagating conifers in general are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,496 and for loblolly pine in particular in U.S. Patent Application 2004/0203150.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings are color photographs showing the new variety of loblolly pine.

FIG. 1 is a photograph showing ‘CF L3791’ ramet #7 planted in Holly Hill, S.C. The picture was taken after five field growing seasons. The picture shows excellent stem straightness, few whorls to medium number of whorls per unit stem length, medium angle between the stem and the branches, and medium to large branch diameter (relative to the size of the stem).

FIG. 2 is a photograph showing ‘CF L3791’ ramet #4 planted in Winokur, Ga. The picture was taken after five field growing seasons. The picture shows superiority of growth and medium to wide crown width.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The botanical details of this new and distinct variety of loblolly pine tree follow. All color descriptions are made in reference to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart (2005).

-   Parentage: Female parent: (unnamed) first generation selection made     in Williamsburg County, S.C. Male parent: (unnamed) first generation     selection made in Onslow County, N.C. -   Leaf: Evergreen needles, 6 to 9 inches long, with (usually) three     yellow-green needles per fascicle. The color of this foliage was     measured at age 1 year and age 7 years and was found not to vary     significantly with age. The color of the foliage was RHS 137A (30%)     and 137C (70%). Diameter of the fascicle was 6/100 of an inch and     the average sheath length is 6.75 mm. -   Flower: Monoecious; males long cylindrical, red to yellow, in     clusters at branch tips; females yellow to purple. -   Fruit: Ovoid to cylindrical, 3 to 6 inch red-brown cones; umbo is     armed with a short spine, maturing in early fall. Cones are sporadic     in 5-7 year old plants. -   Branch: Orange-brown in color, fine to moderately stout; buds are     narrowly ovoid, light reddish brown. -   Bark: Initially red- to gray-brown and scaly; older trees are ridged     and furrowed, with somewhat rounded scaly plates; very old trees     have red-brown, flat scaly plates. The RHS color is 200C in shade     and 187D on exposure to sun. -   Shape: A medium to large tree can reach well over 100 feet tall,     self-prunes well and develops a fairly straight trunk and an oval,     somewhat open crown.

Compared to unimproved loblolly pine trees, ‘CF L3791’ is characterized by very high growth rate, great resistance to fusiform rust (caused by Cronartium quercuum (Berk.) Miyabe ex Shirai f. sp. fusiforme (Cumm.) Burds. et Snow), great resistance to pitch canker (caused by Fusarium circinatum Nirenburg et O'Donnell), excellent stem straightness, medium to wide crown width, and few whorls to medium number of whorls.

-   Average height: 26 ft after 5 field growing seasons. -   Maximum height: 28 ft after 5 field growing seasons. -   Average trunk diameter at breast height (4.5 feet above the soil     level): 4.6 inches after 5 field growing seasons. -   Maximum trunk diameter at breast height (4.5 feet above the soil     level): 6.1 inches after 5 field growing seasons. -   Percent stem fusiform rust infection at age 5: 2. -   Percent branch fusiform rust infection at age 5: 6. -   Percent branch and stem fusiform rust infection at age 5: 0. -   Percent dead ramets due to fusiform rust infection at age 5: 0.

Percent stem fusiform rust infection in the USDA Resistance Screening Center (Asheville, N.C.) tests after artificial inoculation with rust sports: 6% (compared to 78% infection in unimproved seedlings).

Percent of seedlings with over 50% of tissue infected by pitch canker in the USDA Resistance Screening Center (Asheville, N.C.) tests after artificial inoculation with pitch canker spores: 0% (compared to 99% infection in unimproved seedlings).

-   Percent stem straightness gain over unimproved trees: 18. -   Propagation: Propagated by somatic embryogenesis. -   Seeds: None produced at age 5-7 years of age, plants are not yet     mature. Expected seed production by 12-15 years of age. -   Use: High yield industrial plantations.

Although the new variety of loblolly pine tree possesses the detailed characteristics noted above as a result of the growing conditions prevailing in the seven test locations, it is to be understood that the variations of the usual magnitude and characteristics incident to changes in growing conditions, irrigation, fertilization, pruning, pest control, climatic variations and the like are to be expected. An example of ‘CF L3791’ can be found at Plum Creek Oliver year 2001 line trial, Screven county, Ga.

-   Sampling of branch characteristics: In order to sample branches from     a consistent position from one tree to the next the following     methodology was utilized. From a point nine feet from the base of     the tree, the first complete whorl of limbs below was labeled “Whorl     One” and the first complete whorl of limbs above labeled “Whorl     Two”. This sampling point was chosen because it is the midpoint of     the basal sixteen foot log of each tree. A complete whorl was     defined as one with at least three branches. An average whorl     contained 2-7 branches. All measurements were taken commencing on     the South side of the tree and progressing anticlockwise around the     stem. When more than three branches were available for measurement     on the whorl the largest three branches, by basal diameter, were     used for sampling. The following branch characteristics were     measured after seven field growing seasons. -   Branch diameter: Diameter of each measured branch was taken at its     base. Using a caliper the diameter of the branch, over bark, was     measured to the closest 100^(th) of an inch. ‘CF L3791’ has an     average branch diameter of 1.08 inches at the base of the branch.     Zygotic seedlings of the same genetic origin have an average branch     diameter of 1.24 inches at the base of the branch. -   Branch angle: Utilizing a large protractor, the angle of each branch     was measured as its deviation from horizontal. Branch angles were     recorded for the portion of the branch emerging from the stem of the     tree with data rounded to the closest 10 degrees. ‘CF L3791’ has an     average branch angle of 36.7 degrees from horizontal. Zygotic     seedlings of the same genetic origin have an average branch angle of     44.2 degrees from horizontal. -   Branch length: The length of each sampled branch was measured     directly with a graduated measurement pole. Branch lengths were     recorded to the closest 0.5 feet. ‘CF L3791’ has an average branch     length of 8.17 feet. Zygotic seedlings of the same genetic origin     have an average branch length of 8.80 feet. -   Crown diameter: The width of the crown, at the point where branch     measurements were taken, was directly measured with the use of a     graduated measurement pole. A radial measurement was taken on the     East and West side of each tree. Crown radius was measured to the     closest 0.5 feet. Crown width data is presented as diameter of the     crown. ‘CF L3791’ has an average crown diameter of 10.4 feet.     Zygotic seedlings of the same genetic origin have an average crown     diameter of 10.75 feet. -   Internode length: In proximity to the area of the stem utilized for     branch measurements the mean internode length was determined for     each tree. Internode distances for the calculation of the mean were     directly measured from the stem of the tree using a graduated     measurement pole. ‘CF L3791’ has an average internode length of 2.4     feet. Zygotic seedlings of the same genetic origin have an average     internode length of 1.7 feet.

Microsatellite markers were used to generate a unique DNA fingerprint for the variety.

Vegetative buds and/or foliar material from eight individuals each produced by controlled crossing among parents for DNA fingerprinting. The DNA extraction protocol of Doyle and Doyle (1987) was used after slight modifications. DNA fingerprinting of parents and their offspring was initially conducted using a set of nine microsatellite markers (Auckland et. al. 2002) and a final set of five primer pairs were selected for the two lines mentioned above (see Table 1, for sequences and conditions of SSR primers) Primer selection was based on their ability to produce unique alleles and the presence of high level of polymorphism.

TABLE 1 Sequences and conditions of the SSR primers currently used in loblolly pine. LABEL TAIL (F/R); E Primer (end MgCl₂ Tm Size ID SEQUENCE (5′-3′) labeled) (mM) (° C.) (bp) PtTX F: CACGACGTTGTAAAAC F 2.5 59 200 2146 GACCTGGGGATTTGGATT GGGTATTTG; (SEQ ID NO: 1) R: ATATTTTCCTTGCCCC TTCCAGACA; (SEQ ID NO: 2) PtTX F: CACGACGTTGTAAAAC F 1.5 55 225 3034 GACTCAAAATGCAAAAG ACG; (SEQ ID NO: 3) R: ATTAGGACTGGGGATG AT: (SEQ ID NO: 4) PtTX F: GAAGTGATAATGGCAT R 3 55 330 3049 AGCAAAAT; (SEQ ID NO: 5) R: GCAGACCCGTGAAAGT AATAAACAT; (SEQ ID NO: 6) PtTX F: TGTCGGTGGAGTTGGC E 2 59 280 3105 AGTAGACT; (SEQ ID NO: 7) R: GCCCAGCGTTTCCTG; (SEQ ID NO: 8) PtTX F: CACGACGTTGTAAAAC F 2.5 59 165 3116 GACCTCCCAAAGCCTAAA GAAT: (SEQ ID NO: 9) R: CATACAAGGCCTTATC TTACAGAA; (SEQ ID NO: 10)

Microsatellite products were detected by M13 tailed primer (Oetting et al., 1995) or infrared dye (IRD)-labeled primer. The amplification products were electrophoresed on 5.5% Long Ranger polyacrylamide gels using a LiCor 4200 automated sequencer (LiCor Inc., Lincoln, Nebr.). For each family, the female and male parents, as well as eight offspring were genotyped.

The observed parental genotypes and their expected offspring's genotypes at five studied SSR loci of each family are presented in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Parental genotypes and their expected offspring's genotypes at five different SSR loci of each family. Genotype Primer Female Male Expected offspring genotype PtTX 199/208 190/190 190/199 190/208 2146 PtTX 184/190 169/169 169/184 169/190 3105 PtTX 224/226 224/226 224/224 224/226 226/226 3034 PtTX 303/305 301/313 301/303 301/305 303/313 305/313 3049 PtTX 157/163 148/151 148/157 148/163 151/157 151/163 3116

In general, offspring genotypes segregated following expected simple Mendelian segregation (see Table 3, for offspring multi-locus genotypes).

TABLE 3 Parents and offspring genotypes at 5 different SSR loci for two loblolly pine full-sib families. Sample PtTX 3034^(a) PtTX 3049^(a) PtTX 3116 ID ID Allele1 Allele2 Allele1 Allele2 Allele1 Off- L 3791 226 226 303 313 151 spring Sample PtTX 3116 PtTX2146^(a) PtTX 3105 ID ID Allele2 Allele1 Allele2 Allele1 Allele2 Off- L 3791 163 190 199 169 169 spring ^(a)Allelic sizes have LiCor primer tails.

-   References:     -   Auckland, L., T. Bui, Y. Zhou, M. Shepherd and C.         Williams. 2002. Conifer Microsatellite Handbook Corporate Press,         Raleigh, N.C., USA.     -   Doyle, J. J. and J. L. Doyle. 1987. A rapid DNA isolation         procedure for small quantities of fresh tissue. Phytochemical         bulletin 19:11-15.     -   Oetting, W. S., H. K. Lee, D. J. Flanders, G. L. Wiesner, T. A.         Sellers and R. A. King. 1995. Linkage analysis with multiplexed         short tandem repeat polymorphisms using infrared florescence and         M13 tailed primers. Genomics 30:450-458. 

1. A new and distinct variety of loblolly pine tree named ‘CF L3791’ substantially as described and illustrated. 